shepherd of Uruk-Haven, is he the shepherd. ... bold, eminent, knowing, and wise! Gilgamesh does not leave a girl to her mother(?) The daughter of the warrior, the bride of

could be extremely erratic. Therefore, Sumerians envisioned the gods controlling the flood to be as unpredictable as the rivers. However, as the gods always eventually sent the flood and its

in heaven decide to create a companion for him; the companion would be one who could match his ability and physical prowess (Binding, 1999). Enkidu is born and after

successfully "bring back his friend, lift him out of his indifference to human life" (Young-Mason 347). Gilgamesh hears the story of

Ulysses. Comparison of Gilgamesh and The Odyssey In both stories one can see very similar lifestyles maintained by the primary characters. They are both leaders and while Ulysses

maintained a constant vigil. The death of his friend plunged Gilgamesh into a grief he had never known. As humans must, Gilgamesh sought to rationalize Enkidus suffering and

and oppresses his people harshly" (Hooker). In this he is essentially cruel and arrogant and his people cry out to the gods for help against this leader. They send a

at the same time he is a monster to his people, an arrogant man in the beginning who takes any woman he wants. The people plead with the gods to

so he takes his focus off of the people. This creature is Enkidu. Enkidu was very much a creature, an animal of sorts, with great powers of strength. He was

plead to the goddess Azuru, insisting that, "Neither the fathers son nor the wife of the noble is safe in Uruk; neither the mothers daughter nor the warriors bride is

quite evident that Gilgamesh, in the beginning, is clearly not a hero. But, the gods send down Enkidu to challenge him and kill him. One author notes that Gilgamesh is

If anyone needed a friend to set him on the right path, it was Gilgamesh. Because he is part man and part God, Gilgamesh believes he

as a result Enkindu is created. In many respects, one could state that both characters are two sides of the same heroic coin. And, as such, both progress psychologically

best friend and traveling companion, Enkidu, dies. Gilgamesh is so upset by his friends death that he goes into a great depression. Sorrow was come into my belly. I

to her mother(?)" (The Epic of Gilgamesh). The gods hear and one goddess does something about it, creating the creature/man known as Enkidu. Prior to Gilgameshs knowing Enkidu he is